BAR INTRODUCTION DEVICE

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a mechanical device suitable for introduction and positioning of metal bars or rods or metal profiles of any section and length used preferably on machines for the production of electrowelded normal or special meshs, shaped according to drawing, through particular flanked double chained means of transport (4) having the purpose to feed and position a plurality of bars (1) at the same time on the collecting surface (9). Said couples of chains (4), parallel and vertical, at closed run, are moved by toothed wheels (6) of large curving ray and by others of smaller ray (5.1 - 5.2). Each chain carries on the outside a plurality of teeth or slabs with lateral semicircle gap, all directed in the same sense: therefore in a single couple of chains, one chain will have slabs (7) in one direction while the other flanked chain has the opposite (8) in order to form a plurality of housings suitable to receive, transport and place bars (1).

Description: 1. Description of the Patent entitled: "BAR INTRODUCTION DEVICE" — O — This patent has for its object a unit for the automatic introduction of 5. bars or rods or metal section bars of any dimension in section and in length preferentially on machines for the production of electrowelded mesh normal or special, shaped according to drawing, through particular double chain transport means having the goal to feed and position a plurality of bars in synchrony. 10. At technical's state of things, we know different positioning systems for bars or metal rods to provide distribution on level to realize (to make) electrowelded meshes. We know the system which provide workman intervention to set and position rods by means of an automatic feeder which carries one bar at the time with well defined geometrical characteristics. 15. Such system is very slow, therefore weighs considerably on production and on product's unit price. Considered the inconvenients of well-known machines it was thought to realize an automatic mechanic unit which could reduce production time and automate positioning operation of section bars of any dimensional 20 feature on the working level. As a matter of fact, for special electrowelded mesh construction it is necessary to place bars of different lengths and sections with various arrangements on the level in parallel, equidistant or not. To make an automatic machine of this type we started to study. A system 1 . permitting, under command, simultaneous placing in the right position of a plurality of bars variously distributed and combined to each other without the use of magnetism. It is started by a feeder which supplies side ways, under command, one 5. bar at the time of determined programmed dimensions, with a single edge reference even for bars having different lengths in order to facilitate welding operations, o any other, on the end side. Following is a set of particular transport chains, parallel on several distances and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis or bars, and will have the task take the bars, carry 10. them and place them in established positions. Each single chain is effectively composed by a flanked couple of chains, independently driven, each one carrying a plurality of slabs shaped towards the outside, forming a tooth with a semicircle lateral notch. Both flanked chains have all teeths placed in one direction: for one chain teeth have one sense while the other 15 > chain has the opposite. This way with flanked chains moved in synchrony, outer slabs or teeth will form a plurality of transversal housings, closed to the moving direction of themselves. The housing formed by two slabs has the particularity to open itself towards the outside whenever the chain links are been turned on toothed wheels of small diameter, while the opening 20. is very little on toothed wheels of large diameter. Therefore, housing formed by both flanked shaped slabs opens on the small ray curves and closes on the straight-line sections of the chain run even on the overturned chain run. Therefore, housings formed by the chains are suitable to keep one or 1. more transversal bars with the introduction into the points where the housing itself opens and afterwards carries them avoiding any danger of release even on overturned straight-line sections. Obviously, in this way loading and unloading of bars is made separately, or rather in points where 5. chains turn around a toothed wheel of small diameter. But the purpose of this invention is to realize simultaneous unloading of a plurality of bars on the suitable comb shaped collectors. This is possible only if between both chains there is the possibility of a comparative light sliding of the shaped teeth. 10. This has been solved with the following technical expedient; each chain, forming the couple is moved separately by its proper motor axis, therefore an axis is connected to a chain while the other is idle. Both shafts can be moved by synchronized motors or by one motor with Cardan joint connection between one another. Comparative movement of a flanked chain, to open 15 the housing even on straight-line sections, is made through a light rotation of one axis as to the other one (for example il could happen with light feeding of a chain or rather small rotation angle of a motor "step by step" or of a "hanging" moved by an hydraulic fluid or pneumatic system, or any other technical solution well-known, etc.). 2 Q Such contrivance permits to realize a transporting chain for bars from an upper position, catching bars in the major curving point of the run (opening of single slabs), to a lower level with simultaneous placing of a plurality of bars on the overturned straight-line section, with fall for gravity on the collecting comb, upon command making flanked chain slabs relatively 1. move in the opening sense of housings, then, reseting such movement device is ready for a new cycle. Through programmable command techniques this invention can receive, transport and place on a comb or collecting level, bars of any dimension 5. in length and diameter at well defined distances between one another. Flanked transport chains can be of any length and the outward projecting half -housing slabs can interest their perimeter fully or just in part. Their bar introduction unit is capable to operate continuously independently from devices or machines at the end side of plant: indeed JO. it can load itself and set itself in position without interference with the comb level underneath and place bars, upon command, at a same time only when this level is free. Innovation is exposed in details with the help of drawings showing preferential realization solution whose execution details are not to be 15 intended as limited but only as examples. Fig.l is a side view of bar introduction unit, including distributor, special transporting chain and the bar collecting comb underneath. Fig.2 is a partial side view of the opening procedure of the housing and bar transportation close to the maximum curving of chain (toothed wheel 2 Q of small diameter). Fig.3 is a side view of feeding compared to Fig.l of flanked double chain. Fig.4 is a partial side view if chain behaviour with housing slabs for bar keeping close to toothed wheels of large diameter without opening of the grip. 1. Fig.5 is a side view of the unit with the chain located in an overturned position close to the collecting comb. Fig.6 is a partial side view, the enlarged zone of chain in its overturned position with slabs containing the bars. 5. Fig.7 is a side view the unit with overturned chain and slabs in comparative movement in the opening phase. Fig.8 is a partial side view, enlarged overturned chain pointing out the slabs opening phase. Fig.9 is a transversal section view of a chain couple with flanked outer 10. slabs and their driving system by means of two motors. Fig.l 0 is a front view of the bar transfering unit with seven couples of flanked chains placed in parallel at various distances. Fig.l 1 is a plan view of the unit of Fig.10 pointing out a possible bar distribution of different lengths and different placings, with lined-up edge, 15. ready to be positioned for the following welding phase and electrowelded mesh forming. According to invention and in compliance to a realization method automatic bar introduction device and positioning of the same to realise electrowelded mesh includes a frame metal structure composed by a 2 Q collecting level or comb (9) and over this, vertically, a sequence of seven paralel flanked transporting chains (4) settled in different distances suitable to transport metal straight bars or rods (1) of different lengths on said comb level (9) underneath, orthogonally to bar container (2) placed sideways with distribution device (3) placed near to maximum curving point of chain, 1. in upper position, that is close to the toothed wheels (5.1 - 5.2) of small ray. Flanked couple chains (4) butt the two flanked independent toothed wheels, of small diameter (5.1 - 5.2), while at the other end engage with 5 # two wheels of larger diameter (6). Each chain (4) has on its outer side a plurality of shaped slabs with a vertical semicircle gap. One chain has all its slabs directed in one sense (7) while the other on the opposite sense (8) even if moving in the same direction. Both chains flanked are synchronized and suitably positioned, therefore semicircle slabs form 0 generally, two by two, a housing for bar keeping in the orthogonal sense which is also suitable for an overturned run section. Both flanked chains (4) are moved by two shafts and by means of two motors separately. As a matter of fact, shaft (10) moved by a motor (11) and fixed to the wheel (5.1) moving chain (4) with slabs (7) and toothed flanked wheel (5.2) 1 5 is idle. The other chain with slabs (8) is moved by shaft (12) with motor (13), also in this case flanked wheel (5.2) is idle. This way possible comparative sliding between both chains and slabs (7) and (8) can be realized during the simultaneous placing phase, due to gravity, of bars on collecting comb (9). As a matter of fact, if one of both motors moves, upon command, „ , lightly out of synchrony or other system suitable to the purpose (ex. axial moving of a "hanging"), housing formed by slabs (7) and (8) opens. Both flanked chains (4) with slabs (7) and (8) partially distributed on perimeter, when they reach the maximum curving point close to distributor (3) they open and receive the bar, then, on the straight-line section or at 1. the large curving ray they close up keeping the bar even on the overturned run (due to the synchronized movement of both chains (4)). Once the placing point is reached, by comparative movement of slabs (7) and (8) in the opening direction of housing, all their content falls at once, due to gravity, 5. on the comb (9). Afterwards synchronity is reset and transport chains are ready for a new cycle. Bars (1) settled on combs beneath (9) can have different section and length and have one edge lined-up close to the catching device before the welding device (14). Single receipt of bars on behalf of slabs (7) and (8) of chains (4), close to sideway distributor (3), is made 10. through project programmed command therefore distribution and consequent placing may also not be equidistant. 15. 20. 25.

Claims: 1- C A I M S 1st. Automatic introduction device for bars or metal straight rods of any section, length and progressive programmed placing on positioning level for the construction of electrowelded normal and/or special meshes 5- (shaped and/or with empty spaces) whose feature is that of including a plurality of flanked coupled chains (4), parallel, vertical and located on different distances in order to receive, transport and position the said bars (1) orthogonally on a level or collecting comb (9) underneath, receiving them one at time and placing them all simultaneously in a synchronized 10. method. The above said flanked chains (4), each is carrying a set of outer shaped slabs (7-8) with semicircle gap, vertical, used as half housing and all set in one sense of direction of the chain. One set of said slabs (7 or 8) are directed according to the sense of feeding of its proper chain (4) while 15. the other set is apposite: forming a closed housing for the orthogonal transport of bars (1) even on overturned sections. Flanked chain couples (4), transporting through slabs, have the particular feature of running all the straight-line sections or curves with large curving rays and keeping the housing formed by two slabs (7-8), one per chain, 20. integral, while when running on small ray curvs they open wide. Therefore, loading of bars (1) into the housings (7-8) of chains (4) is possible when these run over short ray curves, that is, on toothed wheels of small ray (5.1 - 5.2). Bar placing is made simultaneous thanks to gravity, as a matter of fact each chain (4) is fixed to a shaft driven by a proper motor, and synchronized to each other in order to keep constant the housing formed by the couple of slabs (7-8). Once the stated point for placing is reached, that is, the overturned straight-line section, parallel to collecting comb (9), a comparative movement is made between both slabs (that is of both flanked chains forming the couple) in the opening sense of the housing, all transported bars fall simultaneously, due to gravity, in the order in which they have been picked up, afterwards comparative movement of chains is reset (4). 2nd. Bar introduction device, as for the first claim, is caracterized by ( -'- the fact that flanked chain couples (4) carrying the slabs (7-8) with housing purposes for bar keeping, are moved by means of toothed wheels fixed (5.1) and held by idle toothed wheels (5.2) and that comparative movement between both chains (during unloading phase) can be made as one of the following procedures: a) simultaneous intervention on two motors driving 15. single chains (4), one continues light feeding while the other stops, or, one runs more quickly that the other, or also one stops and the other goes lightly backwards; b) both motors (11-13) are synchronized to each other, but one of them is radially movable with another system (by hydraulic fluid cylinder, etc.) to put them out of phase for a short time; c) use of one single motor 20. to drive both axis with a Cardan joint and device of brief disengagement and engagement of transmission. 3rd. Bar introduction device according to one or more previous claims characterized by the fact that the set of slabs (7-8) carried by flanked chains (4) can cover the whole perimeter of chains or could only be partial. 1. 4th. Bar introduction device according to one of more of the previous claims characterized by the fact that couples of flanked chains are located on vertical and parallel levels, therefore their closed run includes straight- line sections with a large ray curving edge (6), while the other edge with 5. smaller ray curves (5.1 - 5.2). Particularly, the run must at least have a small ray curve, possibly on the upper level. 5th. Bar introduction device according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by the fact that single outer slabs (7-8) shaped as half housing carried by transport flanked chains (4) and forming, in general, 10. a set of closed housing, near the curving run of small ray (5.1 - 5.2) housing remains shut even on the overturned section run. 6th. Bar introduction device according to one or many of the previous claims characterized by the fact that distribution, introduction and consequent bar placing (1), of any section and length, can be continuous 15_ or alternating according to the step of housings carried by chains (4). 7th. Bar introduction device according to one or many of the previous claims characterized by the fact that the bar introduction (1), orthogonally on transport chains, is made by one by one or more at a time, while placing is made by gravity, on the overturned section on level or collecting comb 20 (9) > in a simultaneous way and synchronized of all bars transported through opening with two flanked chains out of phase. 8th. Bar introduction device according to one or more of the claims characterized by the fact that it provides the use of at least two or more groups of transporting chain couples (4) placed in parallel and moved by -* • one or more motors (11-13) synchronized to each other, and with technical notice of partial out of phase of chains (4) during unloading and following phase correction. 9th. Bar introduction device according to one or more of the previous 5. claims characterized by the fact that it is suitable to operate independently according to devices or machines at the end side of machine: as a matter of fact it can load and place bar in position without interferring with the comb level beneath, and upon command set all bars simultaneously only when level is free. 10. 15. 20.

Inventors: BERNARDINIS CLAUDIO, ZEBELLONI CARINO, BERNARDINIS, CLAUDIO, ZEBELLONI, CARINO
Applicants: BERNARDINIS CLAUDIO, ZEBELLONI CARINO, BERNARDINIS, CLAUDIO, ZEBELLONI, CARINO
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B21F23
IPC codes: B21D43, B21F23, B21F27